Playing Catch Up

Friday

Jul 25, 2014 at 6:25 PM

Just another week here in the Riv. Time for the wrap up.

The city is in the process of putting the final touches on a draft proposal for a 5 year, $51.3 million capital improvement plan. One of the biggest complaints I hear is that there is a lack of vision here in Fall River. That we seem to get blindsided by the obvious and are constantly in damage control mode. The old proactive versus reactive debate. The City Council in general, and Councilor Mike Miozza in particular, have been asking where the plan is. Well buckle up because here it comes. Both Councilor Miozza and City Administrator Cathy Ann Viveiros have described the forthcoming plan as "playing catch up". That is to say that things that have heretofore been left unattended will now be addressed. This plan, in large measure, will require the city to go out and bond. Which means more borrowing. Which the Council has been opposed to as of late. The biggest ticket item on the list looks like about $9 million to turn the old Incinerator into a transfer station/recycling facility. There is an ordinance in the city that requires any capital project in excess of $5 million to go before the voters for approval. Given the current mood here in the Riv that might turn out to be what is known as "a hard sell".

I'm all about the vision thing and having a plan in place. Especially when it comes to the city's financial obligations. I don't think it's a stretch to say that we're all still pretty shell shocked from the last budget go round. Having said that there's still something that strikes me as being odd when elected officials with two year terms offer up five year plans. Like there is an assumption that they'll be around to see it through to fruition.

Labeling a five year plan "playing catch up" implies something. At least I infer that means we are five years behind from where we should be. Mayor Flanagan has been in office for five years. So if he's been Mayor for five years and we are five years behind ........

A 10 foot by 10 foot sinkhole decided to reveal itself to the world last night down on Central Street. The timing of this Bad Larry couldn't have been worse. Not that there's ever a good time for a ten foot sink hole mind you. Actually I could think of a few, depending on who was standing there when it opened, but I digress. Today is Free Fun Friday down on the waterfront. Getting on the Battleship is free. Getting to the Battleship is another matter. With the Route 79 work in progress it hasn't exactly been a joy navigating around that portion of the Riv, in case you hadn't noticed. The Water Department has been on the job since last night and the hope is that the hole will be patched by noon time. That area was due to be redone as a part of the Route 79 project but as luck would have it the water main, which has been down there since the 1800's, had other plans.

According to this morning's Herald the Mayor was wearing "sweats" when he showed up on the scene last night to observe the damage. That's always the first question on my mind when I read a story about something like this. What was the Mayor wearing ? Just for the record as I'm sitting here typing this I'm wearing a dark blue Eastern Ice T-shirt, tan cargo shorts and brown Reef flip flops with little bottle openers built into the soles. You're welcome.

The Mayor announced on Monday that the Fall River Festival will be heading your way next summer. The press conference was short on details, like where and when, but there you have it. It's sort of a reprise of the old Fall River Celebrates thing from what I could gather. The dude who will be running it, who's name I simply cannot spell, used to be involved in the Whaling City Festival in New Bedford which ended this year after a long, if not sometimes troubling, run. Rumor has it that they were actually contemplating getting this started this year but cooler heads prevailed. Give it a little time to iron out the details and all that. Maybe somebody looked at a calender and figured out that next year is an election year. Just sayin'.

The Mayor of New Bedford, John Mitchell (their John Mitchell not our John Mitchell, different guy), had some less than flattering things to say about all this. For one thing he accused the dude who's name I can't spell of being responsible for running the Whaling City Festival into the ground. He also said that our very own Mayor, one William Flanagan, didn't know what he was talking about. Aww Snap ! So much for regionalism I guess.

I got a bunch of text messages this week asking me about what the carnival that's set up at Durfee is about. I guess there is one. I suppose I could find out but it seems pointless to do so at this juncture. Somebody text me when there isn't a carnival somewhere in the Riv. Then I'll look into it. Bread and circuses kids.

The Mayor endorsed Attorney General Martha Coakley for Governor this past week. Not that you want to know or care how my mind works but I'm going to tell you anyway. The endorsement didn't come as any sort of surprise and you can debate the pros and cons of political endorsements all day long. The thing that I thought of when I saw it was this. What the hell are they doing holding a political endorsement in a city park? I was under the impression that political activity of any kind was forbidden in city parks. At least that's what the Park Board tells you. I'm not talking about politicians walking around saying hi to people or attending events held in the parks, I'm talking straight up political activity. like campaign events, which this clearly was.

You know who wasn't there to greet the AG ? Leo. Want to bet she doesn't get that endorsement ? See what I did there ?

I'm going to go ahead and gush now so you can skip ahead if you want to. My daughter is getting married at the end of next month. She invited me along on Wednesday for the final fitting of her wedding dress. I can't explain the feeling when I walked into the fitting room and saw my little girl in her wedding dress for the first time. Simply beautiful. I'm not an overly emotional guy but holy crap. Can't wait to see what kind of mush ball I turn into in August.

I'd like to personally thank Jon Root down at the Herald for getting the picture that accompanies this blog changed online. Depending on who you listen to the old picture either made me look like "a deer in the headlights" or "a guy who just woke up at one in the afternoon and doesn't give a crap". Which isn't true. I get up a lot earlier than one. By the way the blog is still here. Some people were under the impression this week that it was no longer a thing. It is. Sorry to disappoint.

Okay that's it. Have a good weekend boys and girls. I hit a year this week. I think we can all agree that's long enough. Just kidding. I've seen the light. It was right there all along. Boom!

Just another week here in the Riv. Time for the wrap up.
The city is in the process of putting the final touches on a draft proposal for a 5 year, $51.3 million capital improvement plan. One of the biggest complaints I hear is that there is a lack of vision here in Fall River. That we seem to get blindsided by the obvious and are constantly in damage control mode. The old proactive versus reactive debate. The City Council in general, and Councilor Mike Miozza in particular, have been asking where the plan is. Well buckle up because here it comes. Both Councilor Miozza and City Administrator Cathy Ann Viveiros have described the forthcoming plan as "playing catch up". That is to say that things that have heretofore been left unattended will now be addressed. This plan, in large measure, will require the city to go out and bond. Which means more borrowing. Which the Council has been opposed to as of late. The biggest ticket item on the list looks like about $9 million to turn the old Incinerator into a transfer station/recycling facility. There is an ordinance in the city that requires any capital project in excess of $5 million to go before the voters for approval. Given the current mood here in the Riv that might turn out to be what is known as "a hard sell".
I'm all about the vision thing and having a plan in place. Especially when it comes to the city's financial obligations. I don't think it's a stretch to say that we're all still pretty shell shocked from the last budget go round. Having said that there's still something that strikes me as being odd when elected officials with two year terms offer up five year plans. Like there is an assumption that they'll be around to see it through to fruition.
Labeling a five year plan "playing catch up" implies something. At least I infer that means we are five years behind from where we should be. Mayor Flanagan has been in office for five years. So if he's been Mayor for five years and we are five years behind ........
A 10 foot by 10 foot sinkhole decided to reveal itself to the world last night down on Central Street. The timing of this Bad Larry couldn't have been worse. Not that there's ever a good time for a ten foot sink hole mind you. Actually I could think of a few, depending on who was standing there when it opened, but I digress. Today is Free Fun Friday down on the waterfront. Getting on the Battleship is free. Getting to the Battleship is another matter. With the Route 79 work in progress it hasn't exactly been a joy navigating around that portion of the Riv, in case you hadn't noticed. The Water Department has been on the job since last night and the hope is that the hole will be patched by noon time. That area was due to be redone as a part of the Route 79 project but as luck would have it the water main, which has been down there since the 1800's, had other plans.
According to this morning's Herald the Mayor was wearing "sweats" when he showed up on the scene last night to observe the damage. That's always the first question on my mind when I read a story about something like this. What was the Mayor wearing ? Just for the record as I'm sitting here typing this I'm wearing a dark blue Eastern Ice T-shirt, tan cargo shorts and brown Reef flip flops with little bottle openers built into the soles. You're welcome.
The Mayor announced on Monday that the Fall River Festival will be heading your way next summer. The press conference was short on details, like where and when, but there you have it. It's sort of a reprise of the old Fall River Celebrates thing from what I could gather. The dude who will be running it, who's name I simply cannot spell, used to be involved in the Whaling City Festival in New Bedford which ended this year after a long, if not sometimes troubling, run. Rumor has it that they were actually contemplating getting this started this year but cooler heads prevailed. Give it a little time to iron out the details and all that. Maybe somebody looked at a calender and figured out that next year is an election year. Just sayin'.
The Mayor of New Bedford, John Mitchell (their John Mitchell not our John Mitchell, different guy), had some less than flattering things to say about all this. For one thing he accused the dude who's name I can't spell of being responsible for running the Whaling City Festival into the ground. He also said that our very own Mayor, one William Flanagan, didn't know what he was talking about. Aww Snap ! So much for regionalism I guess.
I got a bunch of text messages this week asking me about what the carnival that's set up at Durfee is about. I guess there is one. I suppose I could find out but it seems pointless to do so at this juncture. Somebody text me when there isn't a carnival somewhere in the Riv. Then I'll look into it. Bread and circuses kids.
The Mayor endorsed Attorney General Martha Coakley for Governor this past week. Not that you want to know or care how my mind works but I'm going to tell you anyway. The endorsement didn't come as any sort of surprise and you can debate the pros and cons of political endorsements all day long. The thing that I thought of when I saw it was this. What the hell are they doing holding a political endorsement in a city park? I was under the impression that political activity of any kind was forbidden in city parks. At least that's what the Park Board tells you. I'm not talking about politicians walking around saying hi to people or attending events held in the parks, I'm talking straight up political activity. like campaign events, which this clearly was.
You know who wasn't there to greet the AG ? Leo. Want to bet she doesn't get that endorsement ? See what I did there ?
I'm going to go ahead and gush now so you can skip ahead if you want to. My daughter is getting married at the end of next month. She invited me along on Wednesday for the final fitting of her wedding dress. I can't explain the feeling when I walked into the fitting room and saw my little girl in her wedding dress for the first time. Simply beautiful. I'm not an overly emotional guy but holy crap. Can't wait to see what kind of mush ball I turn into in August.
I'd like to personally thank Jon Root down at the Herald for getting the picture that accompanies this blog changed online. Depending on who you listen to the old picture either made me look like "a deer in the headlights" or "a guy who just woke up at one in the afternoon and doesn't give a crap". Which isn't true. I get up a lot earlier than one. By the way the blog is still here. Some people were under the impression this week that it was no longer a thing. It is. Sorry to disappoint.
Okay that's it. Have a good weekend boys and girls. I hit a year this week. I think we can all agree that's long enough. Just kidding. I've seen the light. It was right there all along. Boom!